​CLUJ-NAPOCA, HELSINKI, ISTANBUL, TEL AVIV (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - The eyes of the basketball world will turn on four European countries beginning Thursday, when the 40th edition of FIBA EuroBasket tips off.

Europe's 24 best teams will take to the courts in Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Helsinki, Finland; Istanbul, Turkey; and Tel Aviv, Israel, in the quest for European glory, which will conclude on Sunday, September 17 in Istanbul.

With a newly-designed trophy, FIBA EuroBasket 2017 will also mark the end of a two-year cycle for Europe's premier basketball competition. Following the introduction of FIBA's new competition system, FIBA EuroBasket will be held every four years. This all leads to an even greater desire to be crowned European champions, with the chance to do so becoming rarer.

The action tips off in Group A (Helsinki) and Group B (Tel Aviv) on Thursday, and will get underway a day later in the remaining two groups.

Defending champions Spain, once more enter the tournament among the hot favorites, however there are any number of teams also staking their claims to take home the trophy.